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REVERSIBLE
in dementia and alzheimers weekly this last week
they reviewed some reversible casues of memory loss
these are things ive mentioned before that we look for
when someone presents with memory loss
we are looking for things to treat to make the
memory loss better
these things were screened on me when i presented
for my first evaluation
also these tests are repeated at the visits for the adni
alzheimers disease neuroimaging initiative study that
i am in
medications such as antihistamines notable are benadryl
or meclizine or the long acting ones we all take for
our allergies
also sleeping pills and pain pills are on the list
alcohol and illicit drug use
excessive alcohol can affect the b vitamins and both can
affect the brain
stress especially emotional stress can cause memory loss
to the extreme is psychogenic amnesia where the patient
can forget who they are and can wander around lost
it usually resolves on its on
depression is common with aging and can affect memory
treatment usually improves memory
i get screened for depression at each visit
thyroid problems either underactive or overactive can interfere
with remembering things
sleep deprivation can cause memory loss
whether its from stress insomnia or sleep apnea
nutritional deficiencies of vitamin b1 and b12 can affect memory
loss and is easily replaced with a pill or shot
another cause of memory loss and confusion is normal
pressure hydrocephalus in which there is increased pressure
in the fluid in the brain
this is usually detected by ct scan or mri of the brain
its easily treated with a shunt to relieve the pressure
and the recovery in these patients is remarkable
there are stories of patients who are in a nursing home who
after shunt surgery become near normal again driving and
living back at home
my last year of practice i discovered a patient with this
who was having problems with walking and who had
gotten confused
the dementia or memory loss work up was done and the normal
pressure hydrocephalus was discovered
after having the surgery the recovery was impressive
with dementia work ups this is what we are looking for
treatable reversible causes
as we all know
alzheimers is not treatable
it can only be slowed
VIDEO UPDATE
also the video on my story is now on
the national institutes of healths website
and was referenced in
the last alzheimers weekly
the organicgreen doctor
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